It is hopefully no surprise to anyone by now that the Church has entered another new year, as always beginning with the season of Advent. It should also surprise no one when I (Orin) observe that some places have been in full-on Christmas mode since November 1, if not before.

Many of our peers in Church life, be they youth ministers, liturgists, priests, or the faithful baptized are bothered, perhaps even perturbed by the rush into the Christmas celebrations, and that by 7pm on December 25, some trees have already been kicked to the curb. “One thing at a time,” they exclaim. “We need more stillness, silence, waiting, expectation in our lives. We need to remember the Lord is coming again! We need to remember our traditions and our history.”

I suspect I can speak for Shannon too, but I certainly don’t disagree with any of that. I am at the same time not so sure how much the angsty “Waaaaaaaah it’s still advent and also get off my lawn” sorts of statements and social media posts help. Perhaps it’s just venting among friends, but I don’t think it’ll “convert” anyone to a certain way of seeing things, in this case the need we all have for a few weeks of advent in our lives.

A few days ago I posted this as a comment on a friend’s facebook status – a status that was more tongue-in-cheek than anything – but was still one about how Christmas had begun too soon.

Working at a Catholic shrine where a christmas drivethru of lights began a week (or sometimes more) before thanksgiving and the first thing one saw was a giant arch that said “Merry Christmas” across the top, I feel your pain. I used to be rather “vinegar” about it all; I try to be a little more “sugar” these days.

So, to that end, We at Oddwalk crafted a little video, one that is itself goofy and tongue-in-cheek, but attempts to use humor to remind folks, “Hey, don’t forget it’s still Advent around here.” Hopefully this little bit of sugar will go further than some folks’ vinegar this time of year. We are better evangelists when we do so with joy, after all. So, check out what happens when you take some cheery advent songs and change them from major to minor. Advent blessings to you all. —Orin

This Tuesday, October 24, Oddwalk turns thirteen years old. Happy Oddiversary to us! We expect to celebrate our jump into these adolescent years by staring at our phones while someone is speaking to us, gushing about our favorite YouTuber, and rolling our eyes at Mom’s “oldies” radio station as it pumps out ancient hits by…

Live in the St. Louis/Belleville area? Planning to pass through soon? Have money to burn and feel like flying to St. Louis? If so, come join us for the annual Oddwalk Holiday Concert Experience. The concert is being held this Sunday, January 2nd in the Visitors Center lobby at the National Shrine of Our Lady of…

Well, it’s that time of year again. Time for me to select my top Oddblog posts for each month of 2010. In a few of the months, it was difficult to pick just one, so I didn’t. Feel free to praise me, disagree, or offer your own list. Happy reading!! JANUARY While we didn’t blog much in…

With Shannon on a family vacation, and Orin starting on Youth Sing Praise at the Shrine, posts here will be a little slim for a while. Not that you’ll notice the difference. Keep us all in prayer please!

In a retreat at the Shrine this past Saturday, Joyce Rupp played this video and asked those who had gathered about the moments of compassion within. Where do you see compassion? Any new insights on what it takes or means to be compassionate? What about Christian compassion? “Historia de un letrero, The Story of a…

A new Lenten song from Oddwalk, which Orin will use at the Shrine this year! Let us know if you’d like the piano/guitar/harmony parts. Hopefully a simple recording will follow, if Orin has enough time over the next week or so. For now, enjoy, and consider using the prayer – one of repentance and communal…

Here’s an amusing exchange over twitter yesterday, regarding the Shrine’s Youth Day Celebration, where Oddwalk played music, Anne Marie Cribbin emceed/weaver-ed, and Br. Dominic McManus, OP keynoted. (Because it’s a pic, the usual links don’t work.) Bob Rice chimes in with an observation about the dance which ended the night. You do follow us on…

As reported on the Oddblog, Youth Sing Praise at the Shrine this summer performed “Jesus Christ Superstar.” The Cerneka Clan was in attendance, and young Noah and Madeleine have been infatuated with the show ever since. Here, recorded just today, is Noah’s version of the main theme of the show – happy listening!

Today, August 5th, is the Feast of Our Lady of the Snows, known today as the Dedication of the Mary Major Basilica in Rome. The early Church was often struggling in its theology, and one of the first debates was on the very nature of Jesus: was he a man, was he God, or was…

Hey all, sorry for the slow posting again during the busy summer. On July 28, the annual Our Lady of the Snows Healing and Hope Novena began, which has been keeping Orin busy (so, theoretically out of trouble). Tomorrow, Saturday night, Oddwalk leads the music ministry at a mass which will also include sacramental anointing…

As we mentioned in the last post, Orin is busy this week with the Youth Sing Praise production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Shrine. The Shrine staff does a nice job of keeping a daily photo album, and already have a couple of days worth of pictures posted on their website. You can find…

Hey everyone, Orin’s got a busy 10 days coming up at the Shrine’s annual Youth Sing Praise. This year’s production is “Jesus Christ Superstar” and is not to be missed. Saturday, June 27, 7pm, Shrine Amphitheater. A couple friends of Oddwalk are on staff this year – well, heck, they’re all our friends, but we…

This photo was snapped this past Holy Week at the Shrine during a rehearsal for a stations of the cross. Pictured are Barabbas, Pilate, Jesus, and Orin. Please provide your best caption in the comments!

Hey Oddwalkia, sorry for the week of no blogging… busy times, but that’s May for you – end of the semester, graduations, ordinations, Mothers Day! Here though are a few pictures from the weekend (Orin’s weekend anyway). Later this week we plan to have up more stories and pictures from our trip to Oklahoma City!…

Just a couple posts down is a picture of Orin portraying Pontius Pilate during a Good Friday Stations of the Cross. Well, he made the news, mostly because his wife was about the only person available to talk on the phone when the reporter called – view the article here!

On Oddwalk’s recent trip to Bermuda to lead retreats, both days of retreats we ended with a closing prayer where we invited the students to gather around a large wooden cross we had found backstage in their theater. We invited the teens to pray, and reflect that while the cross of Christ is heavy, and…